Steel-wool ink eraser



Feb. 159 192?0 F. STEEL WOOL INK ERASER Filed May '7, 1926 Patented Feb.15, 1927.

PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK EVANS, F SPARTANBURG, SOUTH CAROLINA.

STEEL-WOOL IN K ERASER.

Application filed May 7,

The present invention relates to an eraser peculiarly adapted by itsabrasive qualities to remove ink from paper or the like without injuryto the surface thereof. I have found that steel wool, when properlyconditioned, has the requisite qualities to a high degree, and while Iam aware that this material is used generally as a scouring agent, ithas not, to my knowledge, been proposed to adapt it to the particularuse of ink eraser. The essence of my invention lies in so treating andmounting the material as to render it susceptible of this use.

Proceedin v I shall describe my invention with particular reference tothe annexed sheet of drawings in which- Figure 1 is a view of oneembodiment of my invention.

Figure 2 isan enlarged view of a portion of the embodiment according toFigure 1,

partly in section.

Figure 3 is a section on the line 33 of Figure 2.

1 Figure 4 is a section on the line H of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a modified form similar in general to that of Figure 1.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section of a special form of capsule orjacket for the steel wool.

In its usual state steel wool is not sufficiently stable or compact tobe used readily as an ink eraser. Consequently, the first step ofmanufacture is to subject the wool, which in all the figures is denotedby the reference character 10, to sufficient prersure to compress itsubstantially. It is to be understood that this pressure is notsufiicient to render the mass extremely dense, but mere- 1y suflicientto bring the fibers more closely together and to promote theircoherence. In use this compressed mass will be of cylindrical shape soas to be received in an open ended jacket 11. As illustrated in Figures1 to 5,jacket 11 is of metal and the fibers could also, of course, bepacked into the jacket previous to their compression and then besuitably compressed by subjection to pres- 0 sure. In Figures 1, 2 and5, it will be noted that the upper end of jacket 11 is provided fromthis general statement,

1926. Serial No. 107,511.

with an annular groove 1.7 into which the fibers may press for betterretaining the mars in position. vFrom these same figures, it will benoted that the lower portion of the j ackct is provided with an internalspiral thread 1.2. A polygonal stem 13 is adapted to fit withinthejacket and upon rotation to engage threads 12 and thus eventually bebrought into contact with the lower end of the compressed mass of steelwool. Thus when the protruding end of the mass 10 becomes worn downthrough use, the mass may be further extruded by rotation of stem 13relative to jacket 11.

In Figure 1, stem 13 is shown as being provided at its free end with abrush 14, while in Figure 5 stem 13 is in the form of a writing stylus,here a pen holder provided with a point 15.

In Figure 6, I have shown a jacket 16 of readily attritable material,such as rubber, of proper consistency. This jacket may be disposedwithincasing 11 and protruded as needed in the manner described. In thisinstance, however, the walls of casing 16 form further sustaining meansfor the fibrous mass which may thus project for a greater distance fromcasing 11. Also when this attritable jacket is used the feedinarrangement as described may be omitted if desired. It will beunderstood that as the fibrous mass wears down, the walls of jacket 16will do likewise while still sustaining fibers in properly compressedcondition. The form illustrated in Figure 6 may likewise be used withoutassociation with a metal jacket since it constitutes a complete unit initself.

While I have described some particular embodiments of my invention, I.believe the provision of asustained body of compressed steel wool foruse as an eraser to be broadly new, and the described embodiments arenot to be construed as restrictive of the scope of my invention definedin the following claims.

I claim:

1. An eraser comprising a mass of steel wool in compressed state, andbinding means for retaining the mass in such state.

2. An eraser comprising a compressed the mass of steel wool, and asustaining jacket therefor adapted to expose a portion of the mass foruse.

3. An eraser comprising a compressed 5 mass of steel wool, a. sustaining'acket therefor of readily attritable materia and adapted to expose aportion of the mass for use. 4. An eraser comprising a compressed and arigid jacket for supporting said susmining jacket.

In testimony whereof I 'have hereunto set my hand.

v FRANK EVANS.

